McCartney Times

Music legend Paul McCartney says he stopped drinking before shows because the habit made him forget his words on stage.

The former Beatles star said he has now swapped beer and wine for snacks of salted cashew nuts and chocolate covered raisins, preferring to save any alcohol for after the show.

Talking to the Mirror about pre-show drinking in his earlier days, McCartney, 75, said: “I used to try that, particularly in the early days of Wings when we would tour.”

AARON JOSEFCZYK/REUTERS

Paul McCartney said he now snacked on salted cashew nuts and chocolate covered raisins before shows.

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“But it didn’t work – I would just forget the lyrics I didn’t know anyway.”

While his current band is happy to have a glass of red before performing, he said: “I don’t eat or drink before I go on because I sort of like to feel light.

“Then afterwards I can get heavy and have a drink – before I go on I don’t do that.

“But I do have little sort of snacky things in the dressing room that I might just grab.”

McCartney is currently performing his One On One tour in the US, and will take it to South America before finishing the year in Australia and New Zealand in December.

Source: Drink made me forget lyrics: Paul McCartney | Stuff.co.nz